Scottish Executive

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 17 and 18 March 2003.

Ross Finnie: I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 17 and 18 March 2003, together with Lord Whitty and Mike German.

  On agriculture, the Council continued its consideration of Common Agricultural Policy reform, addressing questions from the Presidency on the Commission's proposals for cereals, milk and rice and for rural development. The UK argued for bringing the EU closer to world market conditions, supported the lines of the Commission proposals for reducing support and argued against the proposed extension of dairy quotas to 2015. On rural development, we argued for a redistribution of modulated funds which would be fair and forward looking, reiterated the case for flat rate modulation of direct payments and urged the Commission to look for ways of increasing the funds available for rural development programmes.

  The Commission updated the Council on the agriculture negotiations in the World Trade Organization, noting that a second draft of the "modalities" paper was expected later in the week and that the EU remained ready to negotiate with trading partners. There was no discussion.

  The Council reached a compromise on phasing out the use of the pesticide Aldicarb, permitting some specific uses in certain member states, including the UK, to continue until the end of 2007. The UK supported the proposal.

  Under other business, the Netherlands reported on its efforts to contain an outbreak of avian influenza. Portugal reported the discovery of certain illegal veterinary medicine residues in poultry. France reported on an initiative proposed by the President of France to improve agricultural trade relations between the EU and sub-Saharan Africa. France also drew attention to the impact of rising fuel prices on the fisheries sector.

  There were no substantive fisheries items on the agenda on this occasion, but in reply to a request from Denmark, the Commission said that it would shortly propose amendment of the interim cod recovery programme.

Central Heating

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses in (a) West Dunbartonshire, (b) Argyll and Bute and (c) Dumbarton parliamentary constituency are now centrally heated as a result of its Central Heating Installation Programme.

Des McNulty: The Central Heating Installation Programme for local authorities began in April 2000. Under the programme, West Dunbartonshire Council installed central heating in 72 dwellings in 2001-02 and in 36 dwellings in 2002-03. Argyll and Bute installed central heating in 28 dwellings in 2001-02 and in 31 dwellings in 2002-03. All council houses in the areas concerned will have central heating by 31 March 2004, except where the tenant has refused the offer or the building is to be demolished.

  Eaga administer the Central Heating Installation Programme for owner-occupiers and private renters. They collect statistics by postcode area. The main postcode area for Dunbartonshire is G and Eaga report that they installed free central heating in that area in 1,188 dwellings in 2001-02 and have installed it in 1,689 dwellings in 2002-03 to date. The main postcode area for Argyll and Bute is PA. Eaga installed free central heating in that area in 292 dwellings in 2001-02 and have installed it in 395 dwellings in 2002-03 to date. All owner-occupiers and private renters in the areas concerned who apply for free central heating will have it by 31 March 2006.

Central Heating

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses owned by (a) West Dunbartonshire Council and (b) Argyll and Bute Council had no central heating in each year since 1999.

Des McNulty: No such estimate has been made centrally. The answer given to question S1W-34508 today sets out the number of council dwellings in which central heating has been installed in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute under the Central Heating Installation Programme in 2001-02 and 2002-03. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .. Both councils will be given sufficient resources for 2003-04 to ensure that all council dwellings have central heating by 31 March 2004, except where the tenant has refused the offer or the building is to be demolished.

Central Heating

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses in Dundee are now centrally heated as a result of its Central Heating Installation Programme.

Des McNulty: Since the Central Heating Installation Programme for owner-occupiers and private renters began, in September 2000, Eaga have installed central heating in 892 dwellings in the DD postcode area. Dundee Council have installed central heating in 1,251 dwellings since April 2000. All council houses in Dundee will have central heating by 31 March 2004, except where the tenant has refused the offer or the building is to be demolished. All owner-occupiers and private renters in Dundee who apply for free central heating will have it by 31 March 2006.

Central Heating

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses owned by Dundee City Council had no central heating in each year since 1999.

Des McNulty: No such estimate has been made centrally. The answer given to question S1W-34573 today, sets out the number of council dwellings in which central heating has been installed under the Central Heating Installation Programme in 2001-02 and 2002-03. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ..

  Dundee Council will be given sufficient resources for 2003-04 to ensure that all council dwellings have central heating by 31 March 2004, except where the tenant has refused the offer or the building is to be demolished.

Civil Service

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the extension of its relocation policy announced on 25 October 2002 covering small units of location-independent work.

Peter Peacock: We have made good progress. The Executive is committed to its policy of dispersing jobs from Edinburgh and wants the benefits of these jobs to be widely available across Scotland. Last autumn, we announced a further relocation initiative aimed at rural and more remote areas of Scotland. We will be receiving proposals from organisations covered by the relocation policy in the spring.

  I am pleased to announce that we have looked at operations carried out by the Scottish Executive itself and we have identified additional opportunities for relocation. The jobs come from across the Executive and cover a range of functions. In total around 80 jobs will move probably to between four and seven different locations.

  We will be working closely with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and COSLA to identify suitable locations. We are confident that with the support of the Enterprise bodies and local authorities this work can be carried out at locations remote from the main headquarters offices in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are proposed or are being considered regarding the terms of appointment and eligibility for reinstatement at the end of the term of appointment for persons seconded from the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service, in the light of the arrangements for the prosecution of serious crime in the High Court set out in Modernising the Effective Prosecution of Serious Crime - Appointment and Role of Advocate Deputes: The Way Forward and the announcement by the Lord Advocate on 17 December 2002.

Colin Boyd QC: Members of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service appointed as Advocate Deputes will serve for a similar length of time as those appointed from the Faculty of Advocates. Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff will return to the department at the end of any period of secondment.

Education

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had during 2002 with the board of management of St Mary’s Episcopal Primary School in Dunblane about future funding arrangements at the school and what plans there are for any such future discussions.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive had no such discussions with the board of management of the school in 2002, but had meetings with representatives of the board in February and March 2003, at which future funding arrangements were discussed.

Environment

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assess the potential benefits of an environmental court as a possible means of securing improved environmental justice.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is committed to the effective and appropriate enforcement of environmental legislation. Environmental protection and environmental justice are key objectives in creating a sustainable future for Scotland.

  The Scottish Land Court is being given powers to deal with certain environmental matters as a way of securing improved protection to the Scottish environment.

  Chapter three of the Policy and Financial Management Review of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, published on 14 March 2003, investigated a number of ways in which the prosecution of environmental crimes may be made more effective.

  Furthermore, we are supporting training initiatives to increase awareness amongst the legal profession of environmental issues.

Equal Opportunities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote awareness of costs to the economy of age discrimination.

Des McNulty: Scottish Enterprise has placed information on the costs of age discrimination to the economy on its website:

  http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/publications/fsip1_getting_old.pdf.

Europe

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33593 by Mr Jim Wallace on 10 February 2003, who its representation in the UK delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe is composed of.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive representative on the UK delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) is Peter Peacock MSP, Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services. Mr Peacock’s substitute on CLRAE is Ben Wallace MSP.

European Funding

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government about the impact of departmental expenditure limits on the allocation of European Union funding within the Executive's budget.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on financial issues.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 27 February 2003 to the Minister for Environment and Rural Development about the future of the Ardtoe Marine Farming Unit; whether the minister will meet me to discuss the issue, and whether he will visit the unit to meet staff and hear their views about the future of the unit and the value of the work carried out there.

Ross Finnie: A reply was issued today.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the call from the European Parliament for the European Union to allocate €150 million to offset the impact of the decisions made at the Fisheries Council meeting in December 2002.

Ross Finnie: The Executive has already moved swiftly and put in place more than £50 million in additional support for the industry, in recognition of the implications of the decisions taken at last December’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

  On additional European funding, the Commission's proposal is for an additional €32 million across the Community for an emergency scrapping fund, but this has not been approved by the Council and the European Parliament. The Scottish Executive would examine the details of any scheme once it had been approved.

Local Government Finance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital consent has been for each local authority since 1996-97, showing the percentage change year on year.

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital consent for (a) City of Edinburgh and (b) East Lothian council has been in each year since 1997-98.

Mr Andy Kerr: Total capital allocations for each local authority since 1996-97, with percentage year-on-year changes, are shown in the table.

  Local Government Capital Allocations (Housing and Non-Housing)

  Note:

  Caution should be applied in comparing capital allocations between years. For example, the allocations for 1996-97 include adjustments for liabilities inherited from the former regional councils; the figures exclude capital allocations transferred by councils for revenue purposes; the figures will include one-off additional allocations for specific projects,and for 1999-2000 and 2000-01 the allocations were calculated on a different basis, taking account of projected capital receipts raised by individual authorities.

  

 
 Net
Capital
Allocation
1996-97
 Net
Capital
Allocation
1997-98
 %
Change
 Net
Capital
Allocation
1998-99
 %
Change
 Net
Capital
Allocation
1999-2000
 %
Change


 Scotland
 590,624
 540,997
 -8.4%
 568,310
 5.0
 533,870
 -6.1


 Aberdeen City
 11,142
 15,194
 36.4%
 17,482
 15.1
 19,021
 8.8


 Aberdeenshire
 16,135
 14,214
 -11.9%
 16,314
 14.8
 15,839
 -2.9


 Angus
 7,573
 10,787
 42.4%
 9,990
 -7.4
 8,677
 -13.1


 Argyll and Bute
 14,670
 16,861
 14.9%
 12,681
 -24.8
 11,329
 -10.7


 Clackmannanshire
 3,559
 4,904
 37.8%
 4,982
 1.6
 5,204
 4.5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 20,229
 13,890
 -31.3%
 13,575
 -2.3
 14,251
 5.0


 Dundee City
 22,553
 19,916
 -11.7%
 17,912
 -10.1
 17,619
 -1.6


 East Ayrshire
 9,439
 11,094
 17.5%
 12,340
 11.2
 9,440
 -23.5


 East Dunbartonshire
 8,557
 8,852
 3.4%
 8,755
 -1.1
 7,932
 -9.4


 East Lothian
 8,747
 7,607
 -13.0%
 9,494
 24.8
 9,182
 -3.3


 East Renfrewshire
 3,183
 6,415
 101.5%
 6,646
 3.6
 5,768
 -13.2


 Edinburgh City
 48,369
 37,700
 -22.1%
 43,310
 14.9
 38,240
 -11.7


 Eilean Siar
 7,361
 13,219
 79.6%
 6,749
 -48.9
 14,040
 108.0


 Falkirk
 12,957
 11,893
 -8.2%
 12,550
 5.5
 13,003
 3.6


 Fife
 24,102
 24,376
 1.1%
 25,982
 6.6
 23,945
 -7.8


 Glasgow City
 112,638
 73,318
 -34.9%
 95,469
 30.2
 67,773
 -29.0


 Highland
 33,506
 30,430
 -9.2%
 26,881
 -11.7
 28,372
 5.5


 Inverclyde
 12,224
 11,908
 -2.6%
 13,213
 11.0
 9,885
 -25.2


 Midlothian
 5,585
 6,013
 7.7%
 7,005
 16.5
 6,474
 -7.6


 Moray
 6,704
 9,796
 46.1%
 8,400
 -14.3
 7,680
 -8.6


 North Ayrshire
 12,402
 12,392
 -0.1%
 10,424
 -15.9
 12,015
 15.3


 North Lanarkshire
 28,767
 27,670
 -3.8%
 27,871
 0.7
 27,649
 -0.8


 Orkney
 3,279
 4,404
 34.3%
 4,661
 5.8
 4,290
 -8.0


 Perth and Kinross
 8,366
 10,489
 25.4%
 14,398
 37.3
 17,605
 22.3


 Renfrewshire
 22,689
 19,811
 -12.7%
 18,340
 -7.4
 18,521
 1.0


 Scottish Borders
 12,476
 15,370
 23.2%
 16,072
 4.6
 8,630
 -46.3


 Shetland
 2,217
 2,181
 -1.6%
 2,394
 9.8
 2,448
 2.3


 South Ayrshire
 7,419
 9,833
 32.5%
 9,725
 -1.1
 9,062
 -6.8


 South Lanarkshire
 18,872
 19,651
 4.1%
 20,451
 4.1
 22,724
 11.1


 Stirling
 13,246
 7,548
 -43.0%
 8,615
 14.1
 10,379
 20.5


 West Dunbartonshire
 12,471
 10,389
 -16.7%
 11,979
 15.3
 12,956
 8.2


 West Lothian
 8,220
 10,735
 30.6%
 12,620
 17.6
 12,406
 -1.7


 Central Fire
 885
 1,091
 23.3%
 2,175
 99.4
 1,710
 -21.4


 Dumfries and Gal. Fire
 390
 515
 32.1%
 673
 30.7
 510
 -24.2


 Fife Fire
 852
 846
 -0.7%
 823
 -2.7
 1,107
 34.5


 Grampian Fire
 2,290
 1,427
 -37.7%
 1,261
 -11.6
 1,762
 39.7


 Highlands and Islands Fire 
  
 1,538
 1,703
 10.7%
 1,523
 -10.6
 2,159
 41.8


 Lothian and Borders Fire 
 2,293
 2,421
 5.6%
 2,258
 -6.7
 1,806
 -20.0


 Strathclyde Fire
 5,900
 5,776
 -2.1%
 5,522
 -4.4
 5,540
 0.3


 Tayside Fire
 1,429
 1,067
 -25.3%
 1,049
 -1.7
 1,254
 19.5


 Central Police
 1,162
 892
 -23.2%
 521
 -41.6
 469
 -10.0


 Dumfries and Gal. Police
 1,737
 772
 -55.6%
 709
 -8.2
 552
 -22.1


 Fife Police
 1,437
 1,347
 -6.3%
 1,279
 -5.0
 990
 -22.6


 Grampian Police
 973
 890
 -8.5%
 243
 -72.7
 1,234
 407.8


 Lothian and Borders Police
 1,602
 1,321
 -17.5%
 938
 -29.0
 1,188
 26.7


 Northern Police
 2,064
 2,837
 37.5%
 6,595
 132.5
 2,557
 -61.2


 Strathclyde Police
 11,950
 10,010
 -16.2%
 6,685
 -33.2
 10,732
 60.5


 Tayside Police
 1,807
 1,701
 -5.9%
 1,185
 -30.3
 830
 -30.0


 Tay Bridge
 300
 1,023
 241.0%
 2,250
 119.9
 600
 -73.3


 SPTA
 12,358
 6,498
 -47.4%
 5,341
 -17.8
 6,511
 21.9



  

 
 Net
Capital Allocation
2000-01
 %
Change
 Net
Capital Allocation
2001-02
 %
Change


 Scotland
 570,115
 6.8
 670,740
 17.6


 Aberdeen City
 18,031
 -5.2
 15,921
 -11.7


 Aberdeenshire
 14,944
 -5.7
 21,555
 44.2


 Angus
 7,764
 -10.5
 8,815
 13.5


 Argyll and Bute
 12,554
 10.8
 17,166
 36.7


 Clackmannanshire
 5,827
 12.0
 6,617
 13.6


 Dumfries and Galloway
 15,116
 6.1
 17,807
 17.8


 Dundee City
 18,420
 4.5
 24,892
 35.1


 East Ayrshire
 10,549
 11.7
 11,321
 7.3


 East Dunbartonshire
 8,823
 11.2
 15,396
 74.5


 East Lothian
 10,421
 13.5
 14,696
 41.0


 East Renfrewshire
 8,920
 54.6
 9,803
 9.9


 Edinburgh City
 56,380
 47.4
 47,878
 -15.1


 Eilean Siar
 11,465
 -18.3
 15,207
 32.6


 Falkirk
 13,201
 1.5
 17,159
 30.0


 Fife
 24,243
 1.2
 34,499
 42.3


 Glasgow City
 70,384
 3.9
 97,266
 38.2


 Highland
 31,350
 10.5
 32,002
 2.1


 Inverclyde
 11,082
 12.1
 11,756
 6.1


 Midlothian
 7,606
 17.5
 8,751
 15.1


 Moray
 7,213
 -6.1
 7,907
 9.6


 North Ayrshire
 12,204
 1.6
 13,808
 13.1


 North Lanarkshire
 30,571
 10.6
 33,783
 10.5


 Orkney
 4,456
 3.9
 11,809
 165.0


 Perth and Kinross
 16,451
 -6.6
 15,337
 -6.8


 Renfrewshire
 20,224
 9.2
 21,988
 8.7


 Scottish Borders
 11,166
 29.4
 13,160
 17.9


 Shetland
 2,197
 -10.3
 2,258
 2.8


 South Ayrshire
 8,483
 -6.4
 12,056
 42.1


 South Lanarkshire
 22,082
 -2.8
 25,743
 16.6


 Stirling
 12,279
 18.3
 14,066
 14.6


 West Dunbartonshire
 11,897
 -8.2
 9,377
 -21.2


 West Lothian
 10,078
 -18.8
 6,916
 -31.4


 Central Fire
 585
 -65.8
 884
 51.1


 Dumfries and Gal. Fire
 327
 -35.9
 733
 124.2


 Fife Fire
 936
 -15.4
 978
 4.5


 Grampian Fire
 2,262
 28.4
 2,200
 -2.7


 Highlands and Islands Fire 
  
 2,150
 -0.4
 2,980
 38.6


 Lothian and Borders Fire 
 1,956
 8.3
 3,059
 56.4


 Strathclyde Fire
 5,843
 5.5
 7,266
 24.4


 Tayside Fire
 1,018
 -18.8
 1,318
 29.5


 Central Police
 4,274
 811.3
 3,391
 -20.7


 Dumfries and Gal. Police
 677
 22.6
 385
 -43.1


 Fife Police
 943
 -4.7
 1,361
 44.3


 Grampian Police
 229
 -81.4
 1,420
 520.1


 Lothian and Borders Police
 2,633
 121.6
 3,005
 14.1


 Northern Police
 1,381
 -46.0
 2,700
 95.5


 Strathclyde Police
 8,791
 -18.1
 9,849
 12.0


 Tayside Police
 2,050
 147.0
 1,402
 -31.6


 Tay Bridge
 800
 33.3
 800
 0.0


 SPTA
 6,879
 5.7
 10,294
 49.6



  Source: As reported on the statistical return Capital Payments and their Financing (CPR FIN 5) for the relevant financial year.

  Note:

  Comparable figures are not yet available for 2002-03.

Local Government Finance

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the grant aided expenditure settlement for (a) City of Edinburgh and (b) East Lothian council has been in each year since 1997-98, showing the percentage change year-on-year.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34502 on 24 March 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ..

Local Government Finance

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional £0.5 billion to be spent on police forces, fire brigades and the prison service will be spent in the (a) City of Edinburgh and (b) East Lothian council area on (i) police, (ii) fire and (iii) prison services.

Mr Jim Wallace: The amount of additional funding, provided from the Spending Review in 2002 over the three years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, was as follows:

  

 Police
 £317 million


 Fire
 £72.3 million


 Prisons
 £15 million



  The breakdown for the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian is not available as it is a matter for the relevant Chief Constable, Fire Master or Chief Executive (in conjunction with the Prison Board) to decide how much is allocated within each area. However, the amounts added to Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade Grant Aided Expenditure, following the Spending Review were as follows:

  

 
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Police 
 £7 million
 £16 
  million
 £26 
  million


 Fire
 £1.4 million
 £3.5 million
 £5.6 million

Ministerial Costs

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5772 by Donald Dewar on 4 September 2000, what the total cost has been of each Scottish Executive Minister’s private office since July 2000, broken down by year and, where possible, category of expenditure.

Mr Andy Kerr: I regret that it is not possible to provide a reply prior to dissolution but I will write to the member as soon as possible.

  The following is a further answer (published on 29 August 2003); see below.

Mr Andy Kerr: Further to my letter to you of 11 June 2003, I am writing to provide you with the information you requested in written Parliamentary Question (S1W-34702). As I indicated in my previous letter, there were a number of inaccuracies in some of the budget accounts as a consequence of changes in Ministerial portfolios and consequently, personnel, which occurred mid-financial year. These inaccuracies have now been corrected.

  A further complexity is that Ministerial salaries were, until 2001, paid from Private Office cost centres. Consequently figures for the year 2000/01 include Ministerial costs and are not comparable with subsequent years.

  The figures also include staff costs for Fast Stream staff. Fast Stream staff are paid from a central budget for the first two years of employment. However, Fast Stream staff costs have been included in the figures below to give a fairer picture of the relative costs of each Private Office.

  There remain a number of specific points, highlighted as footnotes to the tables below, which mean that costs for offices are not simply comparable from one year to the next.

  Administration costs cover office costs and travel costs.

  Apologies for the delay in providing you with this information. A copy of this letter has been sent to the Parliament’s reference centre.

  2000-01

  

 Ministerial Office1
 Staff Costs*
 Admin Costs
 Total


 First Minister
 £270,443
 £100,314
 £370,757


 Deputy First Minister
 £150,318
 £33,299
 £183,617


 Minister for Education, Europe 
  and External Affairs
 £110,443
 £44,893
 £155,336


 Minister for Enterprise and 
  Lifelong Learning
 £164,116
 £89,606
 £253,722


 Minister for Finance and Local 
  Government
 £127,014
 £22,827
 £149,841


 Minister for Health and Community 
  Care
 £128,321
 £26,744
 £155,065


 Minister for Parliament2
 £154,350
 £18,546
 £172,896


 Minister for Environment and 
  Rural Development
 £95,025
 £28,291
 £123,316


 Minister for Social Justice
 £97,458
 £41,698
 £139,156


 Minister for Transport and 
  Planning
 £148,317
 £21,431
 £169,748


 Deputy Minister for Sport and 
  Culture
 £46,856
 £12,532
 £59,388


 Deputy Minister for Health 
  and Community Care
 £73,882
 £5,871
 £79,753


 Deputy Minister for Rural Development
 £56,505
 £22,773
 £79,278


 Deputy Minister for Finance 
  and Local Government 
 £78,088
 £13,067
 £91,155


 Deputy Minister for Justice
 £84,536
 £8,166
 £92,702


 Deputy Minister for Highlands 
  and Islands
 £65,025
 £16,206
 £81,231


 Deputy Minister for Education, 
  Europe and External Affairs
 £73,653
 £16,712
 £90,365


 Deputy Minister for Social 
  Justice
 £80,861
 £7,005
 £87,866


 Deputy Minister for Parliament
 £66,206
 £698
 £66,904


 Deputy Minister for Enterprise, 
  Lifelong Learning and Gaelic
 £64,179
 £3,315
 £67,494


 Deputy Minister for Transport
 £11,010
 £13,215
 £24,225



  Note:

  1. Includes Ministerial salaries.

  2. Includes Parliamentary Clerk’s Office

  2001-02

  

 Ministerial Office
 Staff Costs*
 Admin Costs
 Total


 First Minister
 £281,027
 £81,014
 £362,041


 Deputy First Minister
 £116,784
 £32,528
 £149,312


 Minister for Education and 
  Young People
 £95,299
 £24,284
 £119,583


 Minister for Enterprise, Transport 
  and Lifelong Learning
 £87,747
 £83,322
 £171,069


 Minister for Finance and Public 
  Services
 £96,537
 £20,100
 £116,637


 Minister for Health and Community 
  Care
 £86,814
 £20,205
 £107,019


 Minister for Parliamentary 
  Business
 £81,003
 £23,486
 £104,489


 Minister for Environment and 
  Rural Development
 £73,284
 £37,202
 £110,486


 Minister for Social Justice
 £87,103
 £22,987
 £110,090


 Minister for Transport
 £38,672
 £30,248
 £68,920


 Deputy Minister for Transport
 £47,581
 £15,540
 £63,121


 Deputy Minister for Health 
  and Community Care 
 £37,219
 £3,359
 £40,578


 Deputy Minister for Environment 
  and Rural Development
 £47,167
 £26,579
 £73,746


 Deputy Minister for Finance 
  and Public Services
 £31,584
 £4,910
 £36,494


 Deputy Minister for Justice
 £46,013
 £5,849
 £51,862


 Deputy Minister for Enterprise, 
  Transport and Lifelong Learning
 £47,581
 £23,907
 £71,488


 Deputy Minister for Education 
  and Young People
 £56,383
 £21,585
 £77,968


 Deputy Minister for Social 
  Justice
 £41,025
 £12,308
 £53,333


 Deputy Minister for Parliamentary 
  Business
 £58,544
 £5,014
 £63,558


 Deputy Minister for Health 
  and Community Care (2)
 £45,312
 £11,848
 £57,160



  2002-03

  

 Ministerial Office
 Staff Costs
 Admin Costs
 Total


 First Minister
 £316,427.67
 £96,298
 £412,725


 Deputy First Minister
 £129,566.67
 £30,734
 £160,300


 Minister for Education and 
  Young People
 £106,748.75
 £10,720
 £117,468


 Minister for Enterprise, Transport 
  and Lifelong Learning
 £123,353.08
 £56,510
 £179,863


 Minister for Finance and Public 
  Services
 £124,567.50
 £22,576
 £147,143


 Minister for Health and Community 
  Care
 £78,109.75
 £14,804
 £92,913


 Minister for Parliamentary 
  Business
 £91,318.58
 £19,208
 £110,526


 Minister for Environment and 
  Rural Development
 £82,585.25
 £41,150
 £123,735


 Minister for Social Justice
 £58,161.17
 £21,453
 £79,614


 Minister for Tourism, Culture 
  and Sport1
 £48,622.08
 £26,357
 £74,979


 Deputy Minister for Tourism, 
  Culture and Sport
 £46,779.50
 £20,275
 £67,054


 Deputy Minister for Health 
  and Community Care
 £43,152.42
 £11,414
 £54,566


 Deputy Minister for Environment 
  and Rural Development
 £49,575.58
 £21,801
 £71,376


 Deputy Minister for Finance 
  and Public Services
 £42,195.25
 £16,394
 £58,589


 Deputy Minister for Justice
 £51,090.75
 £13,182
 £64,272


 Deputy Minister for Enterprise, 
  Transport and Lifelong Learning
 £75,398.33
 £21,694
 £97,092


 Deputy Minister for Education 
  and Young People
 £57,947.42
 £39,760
 £97,707


 Deputy Minister for Social 
  Justice
 £54,778.75
 £8,153
 £62,931


 Deputy Minister for Parliamentary 
  Business
 £73,809.33
 £2,711
 £76,520


 Deputy Minister for Health 
  and Community Care
 £61,375.08
 £5,719
 £67,094



  *Includes ERNIC and overtime.

  Notes:

  1. New portfolio created in mid year, inherited costs of Deputy Minister for Transport.

Ministerial Responsibility

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of all respects in which royal prerogative is delegated to it.

Patricia Ferguson: The Royal Prerogative is exercised by the Sovereign, not by ministers. However, Scottish ministers advise the Sovereign on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative where it is exercised in relation to devolved matters.

NHS Funding

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive by how much, and by what percentage, each NHS board's budget has increased in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) per capita, showing the cumulative increase over that period, and what it estimates any such increases will be in each NHS board in any future years for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: Details for 1998-99 to 2002-03 are as follows.

  

 Health Board
 1998-99
Total Budget Increase
(£000)
 1998-99
Total Budget Increase
(%)
 1998-99
Per Capita Increase
(£)
 1998-99
Per Capita Increase
(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 16,032
 4.3
 42
 4.9


 Ayrshire and Arran
 13,624
 4.4
 39
 4.7


 Borders
 4,482
 4.7
 41
 4.6


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,067
 4.5
 41
 4.5


 Fife
 8,230
 3.0
 22
 2.8


 Forth Valley
 11,586
 5.2
 41
 5.2


 Grampian
 16,071
 3.8
 36
 4.4


 Greater Glasgow
 17,509
 2.0
 13
 1.4


 Highland
 6,295
 3.3
 32
 3.5


 Lanarkshire
 18,815
 4.3
 35
 4.4


 Lothian
 25,405
 3.9
 31
 3.7


 Orkney
 1,871
 9.2
 111
 10.8


 Shetland
 1,540
 6.9
 72
 7.4


 Tayside
 18,241
 4.9
 53
 5.6


 Western Isles
 1,165
 3.3
 55
 4.4



  

 Health Board
 1999-2000
Total Budget Increase
(£000)
 1999-2000
Total Budget Increase
(%)
 1999-2000
Per Capita Increase
(£)
 1999-2000
Per Capita Increase
(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 13,120
 3.4
 34
 3.7


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,278
 4.7
 43
 4.9


 Borders
 3,269
 3.3
 30
 3.2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 8,523
 6.1
 61
 6.4


 Fife
 14,706
 5.1
 41
 5.0


 Forth Valley
 12,640
 5.4
 40
 4.7


 Grampian
 15,579
 3.5
 29
 3.5


 Greater Glasgow
 45,179
 5.2
 55
 5.8


 Highland
 3,271
 1.7
 14
 1.5


 Lanarkshire
 22,261
 4.8
 37
 4.6


 Lothian
 24,091
 3.6
 26
 3.0


 Orkney*
 -846
 -3.8
 -46
 -4.0


 Shetland
 1,046
 4.4
 54
 5.1


 Tayside
 12,272
 3.1
 36
 3.6


 Western Isles
 911
 2.5
 51
 3.9



  Note:

  *Adjustment to the method of funding the Scottish Ambulance Service and a reduction in the level of non-recurring bridging finance from 1998-99 to 1999-2000 distorts annual changes although this had no impact on the level of disposable income available to the board.

  

 Health Board
 2000-01
Total Budget Increase
(£000)
 2000-01
Total Budget Increase
(%)
 2000-01
Per Capita Increase
(£)
 2000-01
Per Capita Increase
(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 28,958
 7.2
 73
 7.8


 Ayrshire and Arran
 25,504
 7.5
 71
 7.8


 Borders
 3,874
 3.8
 32
 3.3


 Dumfries and Galloway
 4,537
 3.0
 38
 3.7


 Fife
 19,039
 6.3
 51
 6.0


 Forth Valley
 18,775
 7.6
 66
 7.5


 Grampian
 30,864
 6.8
 62
 7.1


 Greater Glasgow
 55,356
 6.0
 63
 6.2


 Highland
 13,716
 6.9
 66
 6.9


 Lanarkshire
 32,107
 6.7
 58
 6.7


 Lothian
 36,505
 5.3
 41
 4.6


 Orkney
 948
 4.4
 55
 5.1


 Shetland
 1,574
 6.3
 85
 7.7


 Tayside
 23,213
 5.8
 68
 6.5


 Western Isles
 2,470
 6.6
 110
 8.1



  

 Health Board
 2001-02
Total Budget Increase
(£000)
 2001-02
Total Budget Increase
(%)
 2001-02
Per Capita Increase
(£)
 2001-02
Per Capita Increase
(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 28,930
 6.7
 68
 6.7


 Ayrshire and Arran
 20,663
 5.6
 55
 5.6


 Borders
 6,385
 6.0
 60
 6.0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 10,416
 6.8
 71
 6.8


 Fife
 16,652
 5.2
 48
 5.2


 Forth Valley
 11,040
 4.2
 40
 4.2


 Grampian
 24,642
 5.0
 47
 5.0


 Greater Glasgow
 77,993
 8.0
 86
 8.0


 Highland
 17,924
 8.4
 86
 8.4


 Lanarkshire
 46,007
 9.0
 82
 9.0


 Lothian
 48,162
 6.6
 61
 6.6


 Orkney
 1,373
 6.1
 70
 6.1


 Shetland
 2,630
 9.9
 117
 9.9


 Tayside
 31,029
 7.3
 80
 7.3


 Western Isles
 3,778
 9.5
 139
 9.5



  

 Health Board
 2002-03
Total Budget Increase
(£000)
 2002-03
Total Budget Increase
(%)
 2002-03
Per Capita Increase
(£)
 2002-03
Per Capita Increase
(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 25,890
 5.7
 61
 5.7


 Ayrshire and Arran
 33,382
 8.6
 89
 8.6


 Borders
 6,166
 5.4
 58
 5.4


 Dumfries and Galloway
 11,082
 6.7
 76
 6.7


 Fife
 25,795
 7.7
 74
 7.7


 Forth Valley
 20,641
 7.5
 74
 7.5


 Grampian
 32,420
 6.3
 62
 6.3


 Greater Glasgow
 79,348
 7.6
 88
 7.6


 Highland
 19,489
 8.4
 93
 8.4


 Lanarkshire
 21,951
 3.9
 39
 3.9


 Lothian
 42,062
 5.4
 54
 5.4


 Orkney
 999
 4.2
 51
 4.2


 Shetland
 2,227
 7.6
 99
 7.6


 Tayside
 22,928
 5.0
 59
 5.0


 Western Isles
 3,761
 8.6
 138
 8.6



  Note:

  Increases for 2002-03 are based on allocations made to date.

  

 Health Board
 1998-99 to 2002-03
Cumulative Budget Increase
(£000)
 1998-99 to 2002-03
Cumulative Budget Increase
(%)
 1998-99 to 2002-03
Cumulative Per Capita Increase
(£)
 1998-99 to 2002-03
Cumulative Per Capita Increase
(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 112,930
 30.4
 278
 32.2


 Ayrshire and Arran
 108,451
 34.6
 297
 35.8


 Borders
 24,176
 25.4
 220
 24.5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 40,625
 30.2
 288
 31.5


 Fife
 84,422
 30.4
 236
 29.6


 Forth Valley
 74,682
 33.7
 262
 32.5


 Grampian
 119,576
 28.1
 236
 29.3


 Greater Glasgow
 275,385
 32.2
 305
 32.3


 Highland
 60,695
 32.0
 291
 32.0


 Lanarkshire
 141,141
 32.1
 251
 32.0


 Lothian
 176,225
 27.4
 213
 25.5


 Orkney
 4,345
 21.3
 242
 23.5


 Shetland
 9,017
 40.1
 427
 43.7


 Tayside
 107,683
 29.0
 296
 31.3


 Western Isles
 12,083
 34.3
 493
 39.5



  Note:

  Total budget includes recurring and non-recurring Hospital and Community Health revenue allocations and demand-led Family Health Services expenditure.

  Per capita has been calculated using the mid-year estimates of population for each year.

  The following increases to initial unified budget allocations have been made for 2003-04:

  

 Health Board
 Initial Unified 
  Budget Increase
2003-04
(£000)
 Initial Unified 
  Budget Increase
2003-04
(%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 30,831
 7.6


 Ayrshire and Arran
 30,161
 8.5


 Borders
 8,683
 8.6


 Dumfries and Galloway
 12,259
 8.3


 Fife
 25,360
 8.3


 Forth Valley
 20,295
 8.3


 Grampian
 31,671
 7.4


 Greater Glasgow
 66,727
 7.4


 Highland
 18,266
 8.9


 Lanarkshire
 38,766
 7.8


 Lothian
 47,660
 7.4


 Orkney
 1,460
 7.4


 Shetland
 1,762
 7.4


 Tayside
 27,811
 7.4


 Western Isles
 2,813
 7.4



  Note:

  The levels of increase for 2004-05 and 2005-06 have not yet been determined.

NHS Waiting Lists

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many in-patient and day case discharges from waiting lists there were in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03, as shown for previous years on table M6.1 of the ISD Scotland national statistics release on waiting times.

Malcolm Chisholm: Table M6.1 is no longer published. Information on in-patient and day case activity in each of the last five years for which information is available is given in the table. Information for 2001-02 is provisional.

  PProvisional.

NHS Waiting Lists

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients on the true waiting list did not have a guarantee in each of the last four quarters.

Malcolm Chisholm: The number of patients on the in-patient and day case waiting list with an exception to the national waiting time guarantee on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December 2002 is given in the table.

  The increase in the number of waiting time guarantee exception codes on 31 December 2002, is in part due to NHS trusts moving patients from the deferred waiting list to the in-patient and day case waiting list in preparation for the abolition of the former on 1 April 2003.

  NHSScotland: Number of Patients on the In-Patient and Day Case Waiting List with an Exception to the National Waiting Time Guarantee on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December 2002.

  

 Date
 Number of Guarantee 
  Exception Codes


 31 March 2002
 4,752


 30 June 2002
 4,402


 30 September 2002
 4,325


 31 December 2002
 6,244

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains its policy to disperse its staff and those of non-departmental public bodies from Edinburgh to outlying regions and whether it would block relocation of staff from outlying regions into Edinburgh.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that government in Scotland is efficient and decentralised, as part of a wider vision of more accessible, open and responsive government. We are committed to examining opportunities as they arise and on a case by case basis. In this context, no areas of the country are targeted and equally none are ruled out. If proposals are received to locate jobs in Edinburgh, these will be considered individually on their merits.

Parliamentary Questions

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when substantive answers to questions S1W-32778, S1W-32779 and S1W-32780 will be given.

Ms Margaret Curran: All three questions were substantively answered on 24 March 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ..

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34411 by Mr Jim Wallace on 13 March 2003, how the Scottish Prison Service tracks a case of violence in HM Prison Kilmarnock for the purposes of imposing performance points on the operators of the prison once the case has been reported to the police if it does not keep a record of such cases reported.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Not all incidents of violence reported to the police can attract performance points. Those which are reported and could attract performance points are recorded by the contractor’s compliance monitor and are reported to the authority in accordance with the contract.

Prison Service

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to measure the level of reoffending upon discharge from each prison and what the most recent results are for each prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not collected.

Prison Service

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to establish temporary accommodation blocks at HM Prison Craiginches and in the Scottish Prison Service as a whole.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS has at present no such plans, but continues to examine best value options including temporary accommodation, for developing the prisons estate including at HM Prison Aberdeen.

Prison Service

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) mandatory drug tests and (b) drug tests at reception were carried out at each prison in each of the last 12 months and what the results of these tests were.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The readily available information on mandatory drug tests is given in a document which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 27107).

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times (a) it and (b) each non-departmental public body has met with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) elsewhere in Scotland; whether the chairman and chief executive of the authority attended any such meetings, and what future meetings are planned with the chairman and chief executive.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the SRA on a wide range of issues. The information concerning meetings between non-departmental public bodies and the SRA is not held centrally.

Rail Network

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards establishing a parkway station in Musselburgh, East Lothian.

Lewis Macdonald: The delivery of enhancements to the East Coast Main Line, including the proposed construction of a new parkway station at Musselburgh is a matter for the Strategic Rail Authority.

Rail Network

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure is planned for the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07.

Lewis Macdonald: The programming of expenditure for the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link is currently being agreed by Network Rail and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive. At this stage, the Scottish Executive has committed £16 million towards this project.

Rail Services

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when rail services will operate without any passenger having to stand for more than 10 minutes.

Lewis Macdonald: This is an aspiration for the new Scottish passenger railway franchise, which is due to commence in 2004. The 10-minute standing target is already in operation in the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive area.

Road Accidents

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what road locations road fatalities have occurred in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002.

Lewis Macdonald: The Central Statistical Database contains information about the grid reference of road accident locations. It does not provide a plain language description of those locations. Information on fatal road accidents by road type for 1999 to 2001 is given in table 5 of Road Accidents Scotland 2001 , copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 25584).

  Information for 2002 is not yet available.

Roads

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts have been placed for the M77 extension between Malletsheugh and Fenwick.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-6539 on 27 February 2003, which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/search.htm . It is anticipated that a contract for the construction and operation of the new motorway and Glasgow Southern Orbital road will be signed once the contractor satisfactorily completes his preparations to secure private sector funding to service the cash needs of the contracts.

Roads

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the standard of work carried out by Amey Highways Ltd on the clearance of litter from the central reservations, verges and slip roads of the M876 and M9 is satisfactory.

Lewis Macdonald: The performance of Amey Highways Ltd on the clearance of litter from the M876 and M9 is monitored by the Scottish Executive and the independent Performance Audit Group (PAG). The Scottish Executive and PAG are generally satisfied that the standard of work carried out by Amey meets the requirements of the Trunk Road Maintenance Contract and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. However, specific problem areas, identified by PAG, have been brought to Amey’s attention for action.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from Dumfries and Galloway Council in relation to the rejection of the recommendation made to the Executive by the reporter to the planning inquiry that the proposed weight restriction order U111w to the Polbae Road near Newton Stewart be not made; whether the imposition of such an order would damage forestry interests; whether the roads maintenance budget of the council is sufficient, and what action it will take to protect the interests of those that would be affected by the granting of such a weight restriction order.

Lewis Macdonald: To date, no representations have been received.

  Should representations be received, it would not be appropriate to make any specific comment at this time which could prejudice any future involvement the Scottish ministers may have.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Transport Planning Group will meet representatives of the Fort William and District Chamber of Commerce to discuss the Chamber of Commerce’s campaign to upgrade the A82.

Lewis Macdonald: On 20 March I announced that we will be commissioning a full Route Action Plan study for the A82 trunk road between Tarbet and Fort William. This study will identify particular problems on the route and identify priorities and targets for future investment in the road. I will ensure the Chamber of Commerce is invited to submit its views to my officials.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the EU structural funds allocated to the Highlands and Islands has been used on road improvements in each year since 1999 and how much it estimates will be used on the basis of its present policy intentions in the current year and the next two years.

Lewis Macdonald: No structural funds monies have been allocated to trunk roads projects during this period, or in the current year. The Executive is currently considering making application for Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme support for the proposed upgrade of the A9 between Helmsdale and Ord of Caithness. Details of the amount and timing have not yet been finalised.

  For local roads, some £2.820 million in 1999 and £2.692 million in 2002, of EU structural funds, were allocated across the Highlands and Islands for road improvements. We estimate that almost £10 million could be allocated for roads works in the next two years.

Roads

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been done into the economic benefits of upgrading the A90 north of Balmedie and north of Tipperty to dual carriageway status.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is currently funding a Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) multi-modal assessment that will allow the Balmedie to Tipperty trunk road scheme to be considered alongside other potential transport improvements in the area. Economic benefits are fully considered as part of the STAG appraisal.

Roads

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for construction of the deceleration lane at the A90/A975 Cruden Bay junction.

Lewis Macdonald: The scheme for the construction of a deceleration lane at the A90/A975 Cruden Bay junction is programmed to commence in autumn 2003 and will take approximately four weeks to complete.

Roads

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the deceleration lane at the A90/A975 Cruden Bay junction will also include a stacking lane for the adjacent Gask turn-off.

Lewis Macdonald: The scheme for the construction of a deceleration lane at the A90/A975 Cruden Bay junction will not include a stacking lane for the adjacent Gask turn-off.

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24007 by Lewis Macdonald on 25 March 2002, what expenditure is planned for each of the current and new trunk road projects in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure is planned for the A8 Baillieston to Newhouse road project in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure is planned for the A80 Stepps to Haggs road project in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07.

Lewis Macdonald: The following table provides budget estimates of expenditure for individual schemes. Progress on each scheme will depend on a number of factors and will vary from prediction as each scheme is developed. Accordingly, final annual expenditure in future years will be managed so that aggregate expenditure relates to the funds available from the Scottish Budget. Substantially completed schemes with small amounts of residual spend have not been listed.

  

Motorway and Trunk Road Schemes (Estimated
  costs)
2002-03
(£000)  
2003-04
(£000)  
2004-05
(£000)  
2005-06
(£000)  
2006-07
(£000)  


 A1 Bowerhouse to Spott Road
 4,160
 33
 31
 33
 0


 A1 Haddington to Dunbar
 17,907
 26,931
 591
 202
 0


 A1 Howburn to Houndwood
 3,821
 1,443
 42
 41
 0


 A1 Thistly Cross to Bowerhouse
 4
 60
 2,530
 57
 14


 A68 Soutra
 50
 10
 0
 0
 0


 A737 Roadhead Roundabout
 0
 50
 1,100
 50
 0


 A75 Barfill to Bettyknowes
 92
 370
 2,230
 43
 43


 A75 Cairntop to Barlae
 273
 2,915
 953
 13
 13


 A75 Chapelton to Bush o' Bield1
 26
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A75 Dunragit
 150
 155
 69
 330
 5,875


 A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount
 80
 89
 100
 10
 3,525


 A75 Newton Stewart
 79
 366
 1,121
 26
 26


 A75 Planting End to Drumflower
 47
 125
 2,862
 362
 10


 A76 Crossroads
 637
 800
 200
 0
 0


 A76 Enterkinfoot (Phase 7)
 20
 700
 30
 0
 0


 A76 Gateside1
 21
 10
 0
 0
 0


 A77 Ardwell to Stockenray
 0
 400
 400
 2,800
 0


 A77 Burnside Improvement
 50
 570
 30
 0
 0


 A77 Drummockloch to Innermessan
 0
 400
 400
 2,800
 0


 A77 Glen App
 0
 400
 400
 2,800
 0


 A77 Haggstone Climbing Lane
 0
 400
 400
 2,800
 0


 A77 Parkend to Bennane
 0
 400
 400
 2,800
 0


 A77 Sandyford Roundabout
 3,500
 100
 0
 0
 0


 A77 Symington Roundabout
 0
 200
 1,800
 2,000
 2,000


 A77 Turnberry Climbing Lane
 200
 2,500
 100
 0
 0


 A77 Whitletts Roundabout
 0
 0
 1750
 50
 0


 A78 Ardrossan, Saltcoats and 
  Stevenston Bypass
 600
 12,950
 24,100
 800
 500


 A78 Cloch Road Roundabout
 100
 1,050
 50
 0
 0


 A78 Inverkip Street Rail Bridge 
  
 100
 2,000
 100
 0
 0


 A8 Baillieston to Newhouse 
  (Maintenance)
 8,000
 17,713
 232
 0
 0


 A8 Shawhead
 100
 2,150
 100
 0
 0


 A80 Auchenkilns
 930
 9,112
 9,841
 146
 129


 A82 Dumbuck Junction 
 0
 50
 850
 50
 0


 A828 Connel Bridge 
 750
 750
 50
 0
 0


 A830 Arisaig to Kinsadel
 5,524
 140
 154
 154
 0


 A876 Kincardine Bridge 
 420
 300
 300
 20,500
 38,000


 A876 Kincardine Eastern Link 
  Road
 450
 8,000
 4,000
 500
 0


 A898 Erskine Bridge 
 1,400
 900
 100
 0
 0


 A9 Ballinluig
 75
 205
 2,673
 2,585
 59


 A9 Bankfoot 
 50
 1,000
 50
 0
 0


 A9 Helmsdale - Ord of Caithness 
  Ph1
 600
 1,500
 3,000
 150
 0


 A9 Helmsdale-Ord of Caithness 
  Ph 2
 80
 200
 200
 4,000
 400


 A9 North Kessock Junction 
 600
 0
 0
 0
 0


 A90 Bridge of Dee to Ellon 
  Road 
 120
 5
 0
 0
 0


 A90 Glamis
 2,087
 100
 0
 25
 0


 A90 Glendoick
 100
 119
 3,742
 2,250
 20


 A90 Hatton Bends
 50
 2,000
 750
 50
 0


 A90 Inchmichael
 214
 161
 1,950
 0
 0


 A90 Inchture
 4,789
 180
 60
 0
 0


 A90 Kinfauns
 108
 70
 2,782
 2,024
 20


 A90 Kirriemuir
 2,010
 530
 45
 31
 0


 A95 Advie Bridge Replacement 
  
 350
 250
 10
 0
 0


 A95 Cromdale 
 180
 20
 0
 0
 0


 A95 Gaich to Craggan
 75
 1,700
 25
 0
 0


 A92 Preston to Balfarg
 935
 2,000
 20
 0
 0


 A96 Coachford
 180
 1,200
 3,600
 450
 0


 A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch 
  Bypass
 320
 200
 200
 11,500
 4,000


 A96 Newtongarry
 1,014
 3,222
 26
 26
 23


 M74 Completion3
 10,190
 30,760
 91,180
 36,090
 76,310


 M77 Malletsheugh to Fenwick2
 2,100
 1,800
 2,200
 7,750
 8,000


 M8 Baillieston-Newhouse and 
  Associated Developments3
 30
 900
 800
 800
 400


 M8 Gantry Refurbishment
 500
 350
 350
 350
 0


 M8 High Mast Lighting
 950
 500
 500
 500
 0


 M8 Kingston Bridge
 4,500
 9,500
 6,000
 3,000
 1,000


 M80 Stepps-Haggs3
 250
 3,348
 2,298
 2,038
 2,008


 M80 A80 to M876 Jn. 5
 900
 25
 0
 0
 0


 Aberdeen Western Peripheral 
  Road3
 400
 2,400
 3,600
 3,000
 10,000



  Notes:

  1. Schemes abandoned during development

  2. Procurement will be by Public Private Partnership (PPP) jointly with the Glasgow Southern Orbital Road. The annual service charge in respect of the PPP will commence on completion and the Executive's share will fall on the Motorway and Trunk Road Programme.

  3. Significant costs will be incurred beyond 2006-07.

  The preceding table does not include the 10 new construction schemes announced on 20 March 2003. Details of these schemes will now be worked up and included in the future programme.

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure is planned for the Aberdeen western peripheral route road project in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and what the total cost of the project will be.

Lewis Macdonald: The North East Scotland Transport Partnership (NESTRANS) estimate the cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route as £120 million at current prices. The Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning announced on 19 March 2003 that the Scottish Executive would fund 81% of the total costs, with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils together contributing 19%.

  Estimated expenditure for 2002-03 to 2006-07 is contained in the answer given to question S1W-34908 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search..

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure is planned for the M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh and Glasgow southern orbital public private partnership (PPP) road project in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and what the total cost is of the PPP contract.

Lewis Macdonald: The M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh and Glasgow Southern Orbital is being taken forward in partnership with East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Councils. The Executive is responsible for the M77 while the Glasgow Southern Orbital is the responsibility of East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Councils.

  The PPP contract has still to be concluded. The cost will only be finalised once the contract is concluded. Estimated expenditure for 2002-03 to 2006-07 is contained in the answer given to question S1W-34908 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search..

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected increases in (a) road traffic levels and (b) greenhouse gas emissions will be in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2021 for the (1) A1 Haddington to Dunbar, (2) A78 Bypass of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston, (3) A8 Baillieston to Newhouse, (4) A80 Stepps to Haggs, (5) A830 Arisaig to Kinsadel, (6) A876 Kincardine Bridge, (7) A876 Kincardine Bridge Eastern Link Road, (8) A96 Aberdeen western peripheral route, (9) A96 Fochabers Bypass, (10) M74 Northern Extension, (11) M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh and Glasgow southern orbital public private partnership project.

Lewis Macdonald: Apart from the Aberdeen Western Peripheral, indicative traffic levels and greenhouse gas emissions for the other 10 trunk road projects requested were published by the Executive in the November 1999 document , Travel Choices for Scotland: The Strategic Roads Review .

  Figures for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral will only become available as the project is taken forward through the next detailed stage of assessment.

Schools

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the successful bidders in the latest round of applications for school rebuilding and refurbishment under the Public Private Partnership scheme.

Nicol Stephen: I refer to Cathy Jamieson’s letter of 18 March 2003 to the Convener of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, which was copied to you. Copies are also available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 27153).

Schools

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether education authorities should take into account the level of funding allocated under its schools estate funding package when formulating Public Private Partnership (PPP) proposals and whether any education authorities that had formulated, but not agreed, PPP proposals before the schools estate funding package became available should now revise their proposals in order to take account of it.

Nicol Stephen: Authorities are free to take account of all the resources available to them in their consideration of funding PPP proposals. Preparation of an Outline Business Case is an early stage of the PPP process and there are opportunities as the process progresses for authorities to review the funding sources available to them in reaching decisions about the affordability of their projects. Authorities should also consider the need to ensure that all their schools are maintained to a good standard and to allocate adequate funding for this purpose.

Scottish Agricultural College

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on any proposed relocation of jobs by the Scottish Agricultural College from Craibstone in Aberdeenshire and Auchincruive in Ayrshire to Edinburgh and how any such relocation would be consistent with the Executive’s policy on dispersing civil service jobs.

Ross Finnie: In responding to the Deloitte & Touche option appraisal report on which the college’s preferred option is based, I have asked the college, among other things, to re-examine the extent to which it proposes to relocate services from the west and north-east of Scotland to Edinburgh.

Social Inclusion

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in respect of the needs of people in deprived communities following the report by the Social Exclusion Unit, Making the Connections: Final Report on Transport and Social Exclusion .

Lewis Macdonald: The Social Exclusion Unit’s remit covers only England but we will be drawing the report to the attention of local authorities in Scotland as they may find it useful when developing transport policies in their areas.

  A number of the actions listed in the report mirror policies that are already in place in Scotland, for example:

  Free local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people (outwith the morning peak) was introduced in September 2002;

  The Executive is investing £23 million through the Rural Transport Fund over three years from 2003-04 for the delivery of new and existing services, and

  The Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance ensures that the issue of social exclusion is considered in the appraisal of all transport proposals for which the Executive provides funding in whole or in part.

  We will be reviewing guidance to local authorities on Local Transport Strategies during 2003 and this report will help to inform that process as we update the sections on social inclusion and accessibility.

Teachers

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total estimated cost is of implementing the McCrone settlement and whether this estimate is lower than COSLA’s estimate.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive remain committed to delivery in full of all recommendations of the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century .

  Following Spending Review 2000, the funding agreed for implementation of the agreement was £174 million in 2001-02, £285 million in 2002-03 and £405 million in 2003-04. The Scottish Budget in September 2002 identified an additional £282 million for implementation in 2003-06 (£11 million /£108 million /£163 million over the three financial years).

  The Scottish Executive and COSLA have now agreed funding in addition to that already identified of £80 million over the three years 2003-06 (£25 million/£20 million/£35 million). This will ensure that all the elements within the agreement are delivered on time and reinforces the commitment of all parties to full implementation.

Teachers

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met with COSLA to discuss the implementation and funding of the McCrone settlement; what action the Executive will take following that meeting; whether The Highland Council has a shortfall in funding of around £6.6 million over the period 2001-02 to 2003-04; whether the formula used for distributing funds to local authorities was correct, and what account the formula took of the needs of local authorities with sparsely populated areas and with very small schools and of the costs of providing Gaelic-medium education.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive meet regularly with COSLA on all aspects of implementation of the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century .

  The Scottish Executive and COSLA agreed funding arrangements for the three years from 2001-02 to 2003-04 when the agreement was signed early in 2001. Additional resources were announced in the Scottish Budget in September 2002 to cover costs up to 2005-06.

  The Scottish Executive have recently agreed with COSLA the provision of additional resources of £80 million over the three years 2003 to 2006, a considerable element of which is designed to help those authorities, including Highland Council, who have carried higher teachers' salary costs than assumed in funding calculations.

Transport

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the recommendations in Women and Transport: Guidance and Checklist are being addressed in the delivery of transport services in the area served by the Strathclyde Passenger Transport.

Lewis Macdonald: Women and Transport: Guidance and Checklist was issued to local authorities, Strathclyde Passenger Transport and transport providers in Scotland in July 2002. How the guidance is put into practice is not monitored centrally.

Transport

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is given to gender differences in transport needs, including the issues highlighted in Women and Transport: Guidance and Checklist , within the remit of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland allows disabled people to give their views on transport issues and advise on any practical improvements which could be put in place which in turn could improve general access to public transport for all, irrespective of gender.

Transport

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring systems are in place for assessing progress made by all transport providers within each local authority area in respect of recommendations contained in Women and Transport: Guidance and Checklist .

Lewis Macdonald: Women and Transport: Guidance and Checklist was issued to local authorities, Strathclyde Passenger Transport and transport providers in Scotland in July 2002. How the guidance is put into practice is not monitored centrally.

Transport

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the recommendations of Women and Transport: Guidance and Checklist will be reflected in the specifications of the new passenger rail franchise.

Lewis Macdonald: The specification for the next Scottish passenger rail franchise is being developed at present and will be based on the Directions and Guidance (D&G), which were issued to the Strategic Rail Authority by Scottish ministers in June 2002. The priorities set out in the D&G were in line with the principles of Women and Transport: Guidance and Checklist , including amongst other things improved safety and personal security; accessibility for all; delivery of new and innovative services, and the promotion of integrated services, through and joint ticketing schemes.

Transport

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the recommendations of Women and Transport: Guidance and Checklist are being carried out at local authority level.

Lewis Macdonald: Women and Transport: Guidance and Checklist was issued to local authorities, Strathclyde Passenger Transport and transport providers in Scotland in July 2002. How the guidance is put into practice is not monitored centrally.

Transport

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure is planned for the transport projects announced on 30 January, 4 March and 12 March 2003 in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07.

Lewis Macdonald: On 30 January, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) published its Strategic Plan .   Its contents are a matter for the SRA.

  The £375 million announced on 4 March is available in principle to Edinburgh City Council to at least fund one tramline. A number of factors, such as planning, design and construction, will determine the actual allocation of resources.

  The announcement on 12 March indicated that finance is available within the Scottish Executive’s £3 billion 10-year budget to take forward the Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport rail links projects. It would be premature at this stage to indicate the phasing of this expenditure.

Union of the Crowns

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to organise a television debate featuring politicians, including the First Minister, that would promote the importance of the Union of the Crowns and, if so, what the status of such plans are; whether the proposal has been discussed by the advisory group and, if so, what the opinion of the group was, and whether any broadcasting organisation has been, or will be, approached by the First Minister or the Executive to show such a programme during the formal campaign for the Scottish Parliament elections, or at any other time.

Mike Watson: There are no plans to have such a debate.